Conservation Biology: Avian, Andean Condor, Volunteer Field Biologists

Volunteer field biologists are needed on a condor conservation project in northern Ecuador.  The Galo Plaza Lasso Foundation and the Community of Zuleta are collaborating with Fundación Zoológica del Ecuador on this project, which is part of Ecuador’s National Strategy for Conservation of the Andean Condor.

The condor is a Critically Endangered Species in Ecuador, with fewer than 50 wild condors believed to remain in the country.  There are 17 condors in captivity in Ecuador, 7 of them with this project.  The project aims to understand more about condor behavior (both wild and captive) in order to identify factors impacting on condor survival and the actions needed to save the species from extinction.  Project components include captive breeding with plans for reintroduction, community education and raising awareness.

These are fantastic volunteer opportunities for biology students/graduates to help with data collection, research and habitat conservation.  Volunteers make detailed observations of the behavior of wild and captive condors.  By observing the captive condors’ reactions to enrichment items and activities, we learn more about the living conditions they prefer for optimum welfare and breeding.  Observation of wild condors (seen on a daily basis) teaches us more about their social hierarchies.

The project aims to conserve the condors’ páramo habitat and inventory other wildlife in the area, so volunteers may also be involved in cataloguing camera trap photos, tracking wildlife or recording data on transects.  Wild Andean bears are often seen in the area and on the camera trap photos.  This is a great opportunity to gain practical experience in data collection in the field and may qualify as an internship or field experience for the purposes of some degree courses.

Potential field biologist volunteers must have studied or be studying biology, wildlife conservation, zoology, conservation biology or similar subjects at university level for at least a year.  Minimum age: 20.  Volunteers must have strong attention to detail for data collection and need to be reasonably fit, to be able to walk at altitude.

Volunteer placements are available all year round, but are booking up fast.  Currently, there is 1 place available for September, 1 for October, 1 for November, and 2 for December (and 3 for 6^th August, if you can get here that soon).  Applications now accepted for 2013.  For more information and how to apply, download the information pack from http://fundaciongaloplazalasso.org/en/voluntariado/volunteer-conservation-biology or email volunteersfgpl@yahoo.co.uk.  Please quote reference SDJul12Avi when applying.